Final Warnings Part 2

Revelation 14:8 NKJV

8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

So much has been assumed about this city Babylon, with wild speculations as to what it pertains to.

Some have asserted that this is America. Not!

Any similarity to any nation or city since the writing of this book, is only because the world and its governments are evil, and the debased nature of Babylon sees some kind of fulfillment in every generation.

There can be no doubt that Babylon spoken of here is the same Babylon of the old testament, the place and seat of all rebellion against God.

It is both geographical and yet spiritual.

The Fall of Babylon

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible The fall of Babylon 14:8

One popular view concerning the identity of “Babylon” is that it is a code word for Rome, which the Christians used to disguise references to Rome. That use occurs elsewhere in the New Testament (cf. 1 Pet. 5:13). The other view is that “Babylon” is literal Babylon on the Euphrates River. The second option is better in Revelation because in this book place names describe literal locations (cf. 1:9; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14) unless specifically identified as figurative (e.g., 11:8). Furthermore “the great,” Nebuchadnezzar’s description of Babylon (cf. Dan. 4:30), always modifies the literal Babylon in Revelation. Viewing this place as literal Babylon does not exclude further implications of the religious and political systems that have arisen from the city, which become the focus of the revelation later (chs. 17, 18).473 “Babylon” will epitomize ungodliness in the world during the Tribulation, as it has throughout human history since the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1–9). Like “Hollywood” the name represents the world system as well as being the name of a particular city.

Babylon is the place that man tried to assert himself above God by building a tower to heaven, which God stopped the building by confounding their language (Gen 11).

Babylon was the geographical place of the Assyrian people and the origin of idol worship to Marduk, the patron god of the Mesopotamian culture. He was known as the god of 50 names.

Babylon was later the capital for the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar.

The cultural center of the world.

The place of the famous hanging gardens of the ancient wonders of the world.

The Ishtar Gate constructed in modern times from a precise inscription on portions of ruins.

The artwork of some of the original sections of wall.

Architecturally, the city has always been one of amazement and beauty.

I. Babylon is associated with a seductress.

“She has made all nations drink...”

Her enticements appeal to human lust!

Money

Power

sex

These three alone are probably responsible for most if not all corruption in the world, in every generation.

And, the entertainment business is built around these three!

Let me explain the deception of each:

Money in itself isn’t bad. I mean we like money don’t we?

But the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, says Paul in 1 Tim. 6:10.

We are enticed with money through various means, such as -

gambling

political payoffs

too great a concern for retirement planning

We are enticed with power because it appeals to our own desire for status.

This was even evident with Jesus’ disciples.

Matthew 18:1 NKJV

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

We are enticed with sex because it appeals to the felt needs which are developed over time, by the constant indulgence of the same.

The world today says, that these are normal feelings and desires that we need not deny. But you also know that those same feelings and desires come from a broken and fallen nature?

And so Babylon has always been the place and sentiment of the origin of such idolatry.

II. Babylon is always in opposition to God.

Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians, speaks of he man of sin, the Anti-Christ that sits in authority over this Babylon.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV

4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

It is this same Anti-Christ who leads the world in worship of the dragon who has always and still does, sit at the seat of power in Babylon.

But we are called out of the world and into Christ, giving our allegiance to the kingdom of God, regardless of where spiritual Babylon may be found.

We cannot simultaneously bear allegiance to these two opposing kingdoms.

God’s ways are not our ways, but are higher says Isaiah 55:9.

Babylon worships its own gods, which are always plentiful.

It desires life without the constraints of moral objectiveness.

it desires selfishness over others.

III. Babylon was defeated at Calvary.

Because this Babylon is associated with all evil that opposes itself against God in every age, God provided for and foretold it’s destruction.

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Babylon need not and should not have any bearing on our lives.

We are moral free agents in Christ, who through the Spirit of God, can and should choose not to abide in Babylon.

The world and those in it will always choose Babylon because it is of the same nature.

James 4:4 NKJV

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

IV. Babylon is eternally damned.

Isaiah 21:9 NKJV

9 And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!” Then he answered and said, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground.”

Revelation 18:21 NKJV

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.

A. To abide in it is to be damned with it.

B. To love it is to hate God.

1 John 2:15–16 NKJV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Conclusion:

We, like every generation of Christians that have gone before us, are in danger of being taken in by Babylon!

In these last days that we presently live, Babylon is more vivid than ever, and it is seducing the church like never before.

We are watching sound doctrine being substituted by subjective theology. Shelving and even denying the orthodox positions that men have died for, because they don’t seem to be relevant today!

We are sacrificing the worship of God, for the elevation of humanism!

My brothers and sisters, we must follow Christ, denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily, standing in righteousness, clothed with the full armor of God, watching, for our redemption is drawing near!